#226:The Great Bomb Chase

Three spies of the enemy, Agents X, Y and Z, are moving across the U.S. over the course of a year, January to December, as Federal agents try to track them down. Each spy stays in one state (of the continental 48) for one month, and moves on to an adjacent state the following month, and never revisits a state a second time.Each spy is also carrying a bomb component, which they hope to assemble. There is a safe house in the one state that all three spies will pass through at some time during the year, where the pieces will be dropped off and put together. For unknown reasons, the movements of the agents depend on such factors as the area (or square mileage) of eah state,the age of the state (when it entered into statehood) and the names of the states (which can be placed in alphabetical order):
In which state is the bomb assembled?

1. Agent X always moves to an older state on each move.
2. Agent Y always moves to a smaller state on each move.
3. Only once during the entire year will Agent Z move to a state whose name is alphabetically before the one he is leaving.
4. One agent begins his tour in the same state in which another agent will conclude his tour.
5. Two agents will be in the same state during the same month.

The room has the shape of a message. You pause to catch your breath and stop your hands from shaking, and look around slowly.

Everything in it has a meaning and a purpose. The floor is tiled in a sequence that seems frozen in movement. The chars and table are carved from dark oak, with ripples and curved and spirals etched into their surface, insinuating expressions and equations. You lean in closer to the table, and see the pattern proceed further and further into the wood, covering every space with its branches. In the few minutes that you have, you try to read a little more.

Something moves on the edge of your vision; it's time to leave. You walk over to the far wall, running your fingers across the tabletop. The vibrations recite a tale to your nerves, in a language you can't quite comprehend.